Sterling Silver Bead Necklace with Early 19th Century Sterling Silver Small Match Safe

Overall Length:  18″

Elegant antique English etched sterling silver match safe, sterling silver beads and a sterling clasp, together make handsome companions. Strike matches, developed in 1832 and called wax vestas, were important for lighting every day, necessary things like stoves, lanterns, and fires. Highly combustible, and, therefore dangerous, soon wax vestas were carried safely in “vesta cases”, also called “match safes”, with the sole purpose to prevent rogue fires. Wealthy smokers often had stunning match safe and cigarette or cigar case sets custom designed by popular English silversmiths.